After 17 years, exchange student makes return trip to Clearwater

As sunlight trickled through the window at the Bob and Rita Kester home on a recent Sunday morning, Helar Duran felt like he was transported to 2006, felt a sense of familiarity and peacefulness reminiscent of being home.

"It feels like I'm 16 again. Waking up at the farm ... it's a good sensation," Duran said.

The Cucúta, Colombia, native spent a year as an exchange student at Clearwater Public Schools. He recently returned to celebrate his host parents' 50th wedding anniversary.

When Duran arrived in 2006, he asked Bob how many people live in Clearwater.

"Four hundred," Kester replied.

Duran replied, "Oh 400,000," to which Kester restated, "No, 400."

"I was a city boy," Duran said. Cucúta, located near the Venezuela border, hosted 750,000 residents at the time.

Life in a small town Nebraska was a bit of culture shock. He arrived in January, an EF Foundation for Foreign Study exchange student, and joined the junior class.

He knew "a little English then" and was impressed with hospitality offered by Clearwater folks.

Cody Kester was a classmate of Duran's at CHS. He said once they worked through the language barrier, Duran "fit in."

"He was easy going and outgoing," Kester said. "He was open to trying new experiences."

Duran joined the football, basketball and track and field teams. "Sports were a different world for him," Kester said.

He expanded his knowledge base by taking courses in woodworking, art and music, since those subjects weren't taught in Colombia.

When the school year ended, Duran worked alongside the Kesters, learning how to milk cows and care for crops. When school started in August, he spent the first semester in Clearwater.

Seventeen years ago, Duran said he appreciated the friendliness of Clearwater residents.

"People will greet you," he said. "I felt like part of a community here."

He had the same feeling on this trip, talking to individuals he met "a lifetime ago."

In 2006, he knew six of Bob and Rita's grandchildren: Blake Kester, Chris Kester, Kierra Bearinger, Cassidy Bearinger, Aislynn Kester and Daley Bearinger.

Duran visited Clearwater in 2008, for the wedding of his host sister, Shannon, to Mitch Tegeler.

"We had just added Shaylie Kester, Irelyn Bearinger and Alec Kester," Tammy Bearinger noted.

On this trip, he was able to meet the other 15 grandchildren who were born since 2008.

Duran worked in sales and real estate, but decided to put his language and skills to work.

He's married now, with two children: an 11-year-old daughter and son, age 2. They call London, Ontario, home, where he works as a systems engineer.

Eventually, he would like to bring his family to visit the Kesters and see why this quiet little village of 400 has a piece of his heart.

"Here, it feels like home," he said.